Auto signal-arm



I). TOWNSEND.

AUTO SIGNAL ARM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 20. 1919.

1,342,007, Patented June 1,1920.

3 wuc/wboaa j: wmsemd CLYDE TOWNSEND, 0F NEWPORT NEWS, VIRGINIA.

AUTO SIGNAL-ARM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Application filed October 20, 1919. Serial No. 331,863.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, CLYDE TOWNSEND, a citizen of the United States,residing at Newport News, in the county of Warwick and State ofVirginia, have invented new and useful. Improvements in Auto Signal-Arms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention 'relates to signaling devices, particularly to those ofthe type used upon automobiles'for indicating to following traflic anintended change in the direction of travel of the vehicle, and has forits object the provision of a signal arm so constructed/as to be mountedupon the slde of the body of an automobile with thehandle portionprojecting within convenient reachL-of the driver whereby the arm may beswung to extend laterally beyond the car in clearly visible position toindicate that the driver intends to make a turn or intends to sto Anlmportant object is'the provisionof a highlyefficient in use by day ornight, dura- I which-- ble in service, and a general improvement in theart.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, theinventionconsists in the details of construction to be hereinafter morefully described and claimed, and illustrated in Figure 1 is afragmentary longitudinal sectional view through an automobile, showingmy device in normal position and in side elevation, I

Fig; 2 is a plan view showing the device swung into signaling position,and

Fig. 3 is a'dctail sectional view.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the letter A designates aportion of the side of the body of anautomobi'le. In carrying out myi'nventionI provide fa device which includes an upright post or standard10 carrying at its lower end an .attaching plateportion 11 conforminglyengaging upon and suitablyscrewed or bolted to the top edge of the .bodyA at the desired the accompanying drawing inlocation adjacent thedriver. This post 10 carries at its upper end a reduced ortion 11 whichhas its extremity threaded. Disposed upon this reduced portion andmounted for revoluble movement thereon is a paddle 12 which is bentintermediate its ends where- 'by the ends will be disposed in planeslying at right angles to each other. This paddle is provided with asuitable hole engaged upon the extension 11. The paddle is so mountedthat the horizontal portion thereof 13 constitutes the handle and thevertical portion 14 thereof constitutes the signal blade and thisportion .14: may be painted any desired color to attract attention.Disposed upon the reduced extension 11 and engaging uponthetop ofthethorizontal portion 13 of the paddle is a spring washer 15 which isengaged by a clamping nut 16, for the pujrpose of.adjusting the tensionof the spring washer, and superposed .upon the nut 16'is a lock nut 17.

In the operation of the device it will be sen thatundernormal conditionsthe paddle is disposed to extend longitudinally of the automobile Whenthe driver intends to make a turn or stop, it is merely necessary thathe grasp the end of the portion 13 constituting the handle, and swingthe paddle so that it will extend at right angles to the gear. Byadjusting the nut 16 the paddle may be so adjusted as to move with thedesired stiflness so that it will not move accidentally.

For night use I provide upon the portion 14 of the paddle, a suitablelight which may be an incandescent bulb' 18 connected by suitable wireswith a source of current wllilich may conveniently be one or more dry ces.

From the foregoing description and a study of the drawings it will beapparent that I have thus provided a very simple and inexpensivesignaling device which will be positive in operation, which does notrequire elaborate manipulation, and which will efiiciently perform allthe functions for whichit is intended.

While I' hav e shown and described the preferred embodiment of myinvention, it is of course to be understood that I reserve the right tomake such changes in the form, construction, and arrangement of parts aswill not depart from the spirit of the invention or the scope of thesubjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A device of the character described comprising an attaching plateadapted to be secured upon the upper edge of the side of a vehicle .bodyin conforming engagement therewith, a standard rising from said late, areduced extension on said standar defining a shoulder, said extensionbeing threaded, a paddle bent intermediate its ends to provide verticaland horizontal ortions, the horizontal portion being providedintermediate its ends with a hole .revolubly engaged upon saidextension, a spring disposed upon said extension and engaging the 15 topof said paddle, and a clamping nut threaded upon said extension andengaging said spring, said nut being adjustable whereby to regulate thetension of the spring, the vertical portion of said paddle 20 extendingoutwardly of the vehicle bod to serve as a signal arm and the free en ofthe horizontal portion'extending within the body of the vehicle andbeing laterally bent for engagement by the hand or arm of the 25operator.

In testimony whereof I affix my si nature.

CLYDE TOWNS ND.

